Vigil Held in Toronto to Honor Slain Boy, Calls for Action Against Gun Violence

At a vigil held in Toronto on Thursday evening, speakers requested the crowd to repeatedly say the name of the eight-year-old boy, who tragically lost his life last weekend due to a stray bullet while in bed with his mother. Jahvai's mother, Holly Roy, expressed her desire for her son's memory to endure.

Approximately one hundred individuals, including community members, friends, family, police officers, and elected officials, gathered at the vigil. The event took place outside an apartment building near the location where Jahvai was killed. Attendees wore blue, Jahvai's favorite color, and placed blue flowers and framed photos of the child at the site.

Marcell Wilson, a spokesperson for Jahvai's family, urged those present to collaborate in addressing gun violence. He emphasized that the responsibility shouldn't solely rest on grieving parents, overstretched law enforcement, or service teams. He stressed the need for a unified effort across all sectors and neighborhoods.

Police reports indicate the shooting occurred outside an apartment building in North York around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday. In a social media post, Ms. Roy shared that her son was unable to sleep that night due to excitement for his friend's upcoming birthday party. She and Jahvai were in bed when they heard what sounded like fireworks. Jahvai sat up and was struck by bullets that came through the window, according to Ms. Roy.

During the vigil, Ms. Roy described Jahvai as a child with an energetic and loving nature that drew people to him. She expressed her struggle to understand why he was taken, but vowed to use the tragedy as a catalyst for change in his honor.

Stephen Paquette traveled from Burlington to attend the vigil. Like the Roy family, he is from Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Ontario’s Manitoulin Island. He wanted to honor Jahvai’s spirit, believing the child was present, happy, and reflecting the beautiful spirit of his family.

Community member Rosanna Araujo attended the vigil to support the family and the community. Her children often play in the playground in front of the apartment building where Jahvai was killed. She and her husband run a basketball non-profit dedicated to serving marginalized youth in Weston Village. She highlighted the lack of programs, funding, resources, and support for youth in the community, which she believes contributes to barriers to recreation and a sense of belonging.

Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree urged people to overcome divisiveness and work together to mitigate gun violence. He emphasized the need to take steps to prevent such tragedies from happening again, including removing guns from the streets. Toronto Police data indicates that 88 percent of the guns seized by the service in 2024 could be traced back to the United States, a statistic cited by Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow at the vigil. She emphasized the need to crack down on illegal American guns entering the city.